Juwan Johnson or Mark Andrews: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Andrews — the game script and projection edges are too wide to ignore.

Mark Andrews plays in the better game script (26.5 implied team points to 20.8) and projects 10.1 to Johnson's 8.8. Johnson's edge is snap share, 75% to 62%. The gap is comfortable.

Juwan Johnson

Juwan Johnson

TE13NOvs DET

Projected Points

Toss-Up· low
Mark Andrews

Mark Andrews

TE11BALvs IND

Projected Points

Start· medium

Why Juwan Johnson

Toss-Up· low

TE1 and high-volume pass-catcher. Big-bodied converted receiver who is a red-zone and intermediate mismatch.

18% target share and 75% snaps make Johnson a volume-driven TE1 play, and a 7-point deficit script pushes New Orleans to throw underneath.

  • DET ranks 19 of 32 against TEs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 0-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 20.8 team points as 7.0-point underdogs.
  • Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 75% snap share in 2025.

The call

  • An 18% target share is genuine TE1 usage — he's the clear top option at the position in this offense with a 75% snap share, so his floor isn't tied to a scheme quirk or a matchup edge.
  • Saints are 7-point underdogs with a 20.8 implied total; trailing script means more dropbacks and more short-to-intermediate work for the tight end, which is exactly where Johnson eats in PPR.
  • The DvP composite (19 of 32) comes off a 0-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so there's no real matchup signal here either way — this call rides on role, and the role is locked in.
  • Risk is the low team total: 8.8 projected points and TE13 means he's barely ahead of the streamer pile, so a red-zone-free afternoon caps him near 5-6. If your bench holds a TE with a top-10 matchup, this is closer than the verdict suggests.

Latest on Johnson

NFL fantasy outlook for Saints in 2026? Etienne, Johnson, rookie WRs

With Alvin Kamara sidelined, fantasy managers are left to wonder who will pick up the carries for New Orleans.

ESPN · Sep 4, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Mark Andrews

Start· medium

TE1 and red-zone mismatch. Veteran seam-stretcher with strong hands and quarterback rapport.

TE11 with a 17% target share in a 26.5-point implied offense — red-zone role and favorable game script make him a fine TE1 play.

  • IND ranks 20 of 32 against TEs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 0-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 26.5 team points as 3.5-point favorites.
  • Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 62% snap share in 2025.

The call

  • A 17% target share on 62% of snaps is a genuine TE1 workload, and Andrews' value is concentrated near the goal line, where Baltimore's 26.5 implied total gives him multiple scoring looks.
  • Vegas has the Ravens as 3.5-point favorites with a healthy team total — the neutral-to-positive script keeps the offense balanced instead of pass-chasing away from the tight end.
  • The Colts grade 20 of 32 vs the position, a mild edge, but the 0-game sample means it shouldn't move the needle either way.
  • Risk is the usual Andrews boom-bust: 10.1 projected points is TE11 territory, so a touchdown-less afternoon leaves him near replacement level — you're starting him for the ceiling.

Head-to-head stats

MetricJuwan JohnsonMark Andrews
Projected points
Consensus rankTE13TE11
Opponent vs positionDET · 19 of 320-game sampleIND · 20 of 320-game sample
Receptions14 of 3225 of 32
Receiving Yards18 of 3231 of 32
Receiving TDs21 of 329 of 32
Targets21 of 3224 of 32
Anytime TD20 of 329 of 32
Target share18%(2025)17%(2025)
Reception share19%(2025)17%(2025)
Implied total · spread20.8+7.026.5-3.5
Depth chartTE1TE1
Snap share75%(2025)62%(2025)
Start/Sit record00+1 toss-up

Signal breakdown

  • 8.8 vs 10.1 projected PPR pointsMark Andrews +
  • Rank 13 vs 11Mark Andrews +
  • Opponent DvP rank 19 vs 20 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 20.8 vs 26.5 team pointsMark Andrews +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 75% vs 62% snap shareJuwan Johnson +

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